Automatic player for musical instruments.



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a? 1-1 enlnven/tom PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906. J. H. CHASE & W. F. BAYER. AUTOMATIC PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 3. 1905.

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PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906. J. H. CHASE & W. F. BAYER.

AUTOMATIC PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1905.

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N0. 828,877. PATENTEDAUQZI, 1906.

J. H. CHASE &: W. P. BAYER.v AUTOMATIC PLAYERI'OR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.3, 1905.

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APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 3, 1905 a SHEETS-SHEET 5.

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AUTOMATIC PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 3, 1905.

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VI/IV. I 4? r M N0. 828,877. PATENTED AUG. 21, 1906. J- H.v CHASE & W. F. BAYER.

AUTOMATIC PLAYER FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 3, '1905.

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APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3, 1905.

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UNITED STATES P T N OEEICE.

JOSEPH HERBERT CHASE AND WILLIAM FREDERICK BAYER, OF BUFFALO. NEW'YORK. ASSIGNORS TO CHASE AND BAKER COMPANY. OF BUF- FALO. NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC PLAYER FQR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification oi." Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 1906.

Application filed January 3. 1905. Serial No. 239.452.

and may be embodied in a musical instrument or as a separate player adaptedto be laced. into operative relation to a musicalmstrument. The objects of our invention are to provide a simple and durable automatic player in which compact and substantial mechanism is provided for the purpose of acting upon the keys of a piano, organ, or other similar musicalinstrument to provide means to collect the dirt and dust in the initial portion of the air-passages; to prevent the entrance of the same to the primary-valve chamber, and to construct the apparatus so that all parts thereof are easily accessible for cleaning, repair's, &c. Other objects are to so construct the apparatus that binding of the working parts and the possibility of disarrangement otall parts from shrinking or swelling are entirely avoided; to arrange the various parts so that uniform lengths of channels or passages are provided between the exhaust-chamber and the pneumatics whereby quick response is obtained to the entrance of air to any airpassage to form a substantial central exhaustchamber which permits of building the secondary-valve chambers onto the. same at opposite sides thereof, and to support the pneumatics on the secondaryvalve chambers.

Still further objects are to provide the unused portions of the bores in the secondaryvalve boards with strengthening plugs, which in addition to strengthening said boards serve also to prevent warping or splitting of the same, said boards being greatly.

weakened by the many bores and passages formed in the "same; to guide the primer;-

valve stems in bushings passing through t valve-boards, which arran ement avoids shrinkage and consequent lea rage of air and assures a uniform quantity of air being supplied to the secondary valves, thus preventing hammering of the secondary valves, and

to otherwise improve on automatic players now in use.

To these ends the invention consists in the I construction, arrangement, and combination of parts to be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section of our improved automatic player for musical instruments. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of the upper portion of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section throu h a portion of the player, taken on line 3 3, ig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through a portion of the player, taken on line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through a portion of the player, taken on line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section throu h a portion of the player, taken on line ig. 2. Fig. 7 isa horizontal section 6 6 thrdugh a portion of the player, taken on line 7 7, Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through a portion of the player, taken on line 8 8, Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a horizontal-section through a portion of the player, taken on line 9 9, Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is a broken vertical longitudinal section taken on. line 10 10, Fig. 2. Fig; 11 is a horizontal section throughaportion of the player, taken on line 11 11,'Fig.'2. Fig. 12 is a sectional plan view of one of the secondary-valve boards. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section taken on line 13 13, Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the player, taken on line 14 14, Fi 1 Fig. 15 1s a vertical section of a portion oi the primary-valve board and the primary-pouch board, showing one of the primary valves,

the'air-duct controlled thereby, and the airduct throu h which the air is led to control the said va ve, the parts being in their normal position. Fig. 16 is a similar section showing the valve elevated. Fig. 17 is a section taken on line 17 17, Fig. 16. an'enlarged vertical section taken on ine 18 18, Fig. 2. Fig. 19 is a broken perspective view of the two parts of the central windchamber, the parts being separated to show the formation of the interior.

Fi 18 is Referring to the drawings indetail, like numerals .of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

} The apparatus hereinisadapted foxy.

use in connection with a piano or similar mu- These parts and the foot-pedals 4, which are attachedthereto, may be of any common construction.

Arranged centrally within the casing is an exhaust-chamber 5, which is in communication with the exhaust-chamber 3 by a passage 6. in two pieces to form a rigid and substantial structure, and lying on 'op )osite sides of the same are the secondary-Va ve chambers 7, on which are mounted the pneumatics 8, controlled in the usual manner by the opening and closing of the corresponding actuating mechanism in the secondary-valve chamber. To the u )per end of each pneumatic an actuating-ro '9 is attached, which has connection with the lower end of a hey-actuating finger 10, having its free end projecting out of the casing and held in operative relation to the corresponding key of the piano-keyboard.

Mounted on the exhaust-chamber 5 is a primary-valve chamber 11, connected with a dust-collecting chamber 12 by a series of airtubes 13, said dust-collecting chamber being also connected with the tracker-board 14 by a series of tubes 15. As is common in automatic players, the perforated music-shect 16, which controls the admission of air through the tracker-board, passes over the latter and is automatically unwound from the roll 18, to which it is secured, and wound onto a taken roll 17 to allow the admission of air ti irough the several openings in the trackerboard as they are uncovered by the musicsheet.

The central eXhaust-chamber 5 comprises two sections 19 20, secured together in any suitable manner and having in their opposing faces longitudinal grooves 21 which form the air-chamberv 5. This arrangement permits of a very solid construction, onto which may be joined the secondary-valve chambers and the primary-valve chambers, while supporting in addition thereto the pneumatics carried on the secondary-valve chambers.

The primary-valve chamber is provided with a valve-board 22, having therein a series of valves 23, controlled by pneumatic pouches 24, covering openings 25 in the pouch-board 26, which latter is arranged be- The exhaust-chamber 5 is formed low the valve-board and separated therefrom by an air-chamber 31, communicating with the'exliaustchamber 5 by end airassages 32. (See Fig. 10.) Above the va veboard is an air-chamber 27, which is in communication with the outer air through airpassages 28. Formed in the pouch-board are air-vents 29, which allow the air acting against the pneumatic pouches to escape when the corresponding openings in the tracker-board are closed, thereby permitting said pouches to assume their normal condition. Connecting said pouch-opening 25 with one of the air-inlet tubes 13 is an airpassage 33, which directs the air against the under side of' the corresponding ouch as it enters. said tubes and causes the atter to be deflected u ward. The axis of each valve 23 is ooinci ent with the center of one of said pouches, and they comprise two valve-disks 34 35, connected by a stem 36 and lying, respectively, above and below the valve-board. The stems of said Valves pass through bushings 37, which are secured in the valve-board, which construction prevents war ing at this point and also prevents the lea age of air. The bushings are formed by insertmg hardwood plugs into bores formed in the valveboard, the grain of which crosses the grain of the said board, and therefore prevents shrinking and swelling of the same. The plugs are bored centrally to form the bushings 37, hereinbefore noted. This construction allows free action to the valve-stems and assumes positive closure against the air, as no leakage can occur at the valve-stem. A pallet 38 is s cured to each valve by a stem 39 and lies against or is secured to the upper face of the coinciding pouch.

Each of the secondary-valve chambers is also provided with a pouch-board 41, separated from the secondary-valve board, to be hereinafter described, by an exhaust-chamber 42. An air-passage 43 connects each primary valve with the corresponding second'ary pouch, and in the primary-valve board air-apertures 44 are formed, which connect the passages 43 with the air-chambers above and below the valve-boards, said apertures lying ad jacent the bushings 37 and being adapted to be closed by the valvedisks 34 35. The secondary-pouch board, as is common, is provided with the usual pneumatic pouches 45, which cooperate with valves 46 in the secondary-valve board. Each of the secondary valves lies within a chamber 47 in the valve-board, which communicates, through openings 48, with the outer air, and through openings 49 with the I exhaust-chamber 42, which openings are adapted to be closed by said valves, each of said chambers being in communication with the corresponding pneumatic by a passage 50. Horizontal air-passages 51 connect the exhaust-chamber 5 with the exhaust-chambers 42 in the secondary-valve chambers, and.

parts can e made short and direct, which inaddition to uniform action produced for the reason above stated assures quick and positive action. Furthermore, by arranging the exhaust-chamber common to all secondary -valves in a central position it may be supported firmly and made substantial, so that it is not likely to spring and cause leakage at points where other parts are attached thereto. As shown in the drawings, the chambers 47 in the secondary-valve chambers are each formed by boring into the valve-board from the under side, and the-portions of the passages 50 within said valve-boards are formed by boring into the latter from the top) and then connecting the portions thus ored with the chambers 47 by horizontal bores 30, extendin from the edges of the boards to the chem ers. It is therefore apparent that the secondary-valve boards are reatly weakened by the many passages ormed therein and are liable to shrink and warp.

To avoid this, plugs 52 are driven into the horizontal bores, 'so that the inner ends thereof terminate at the vertical portions of the passa es 50 or at the edges of the chambers 47 when the latter lie between the pas- 0 sages 50 and the lugs, and as the grain of the boards cross t e grain in the plu s the valve-boards are greatly strengthene and. prevented fromshrinking or warping. The dust-collecting chamber 12 is suitably supported in the case at a convenient point between the tracker-board and the primaryvalve chamber and com rises a bar 53, hav

I ing two parallel rows 0 pockets 54, which are preferably circular and each provided at diametrically opposite points in a horizontal line with'slits or kerfs'55, formed for the reoe tion of a fineavire-gauzae dust-arrester 56,. W 'ch checks the passage of dust to the primary-valve chamber. These dust-pock- 5 5 ets are closed by a removable cover 57, which ermits the same to be cleaned should they ecomeclogged and retard the passage of air through the air-tubes.

This automaticplayer is actuated in theordinary n'ian'ner, partiai vacuum of the exhaust-c embers being induced b motion of the footedals and exhaust be lows; The

I perforate musicrsheet is caused to travel over the-tracker-board for the purpose of chain covering and uncovering the air-openings therein. The air entering the openings in the tracker-board through the perforations in the music-sheet passes through the airtubes 13 and the dust-chamber and enters the primary-valve chamber to actuate the corresponding valves through the action of the air against the pneumatic pouches in connection therewith. This allows the outer air to enter the air-apertures 44 and pass through air-passages 43 43 to the correspond; ing secondary pneumatic pouches 45, acting against the same to actuate the secondary valves connected therewith, which action of the valves opens the passages to the ex haust-chamber 42 and simultaneously cuts off the outer air, thus connecting the actuating-pneumatics with the exhaust-chamber through the openings 49 and passa es 50 and causing collapsingof the same. When said openings in the tracker-board are closed by the music-sheet, motion of the valves and pneumatic ouches is reversed, the air underneath t e primary pouches escaping through air-vents 29 in the pouchboard.

The. reverse motion of the pouches and placed in communication with the outer air, and these pneumatics arecaused to expand by means of a spring in the heel of each pneumatic, (common and not shown,) the air en tering said pneumaticthrough openings 48. It is therefore apparent that the action of the various parts is not new, and no attempt. will be herein made to particularly describe the same, the foregoing being deemed sufficient to permit any pe son skilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and use the same.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is 1. The combination of an exhaust-chainber, and valve-chambers arranged at opposite sides of the exhaust-chamber.

2. The combination of an exhaust-chamber, and valve-chambers arran ed at opposite sides of the eXhaust-cham er and connected with the latter by air-passages of uniform or approximately uniform length.

3. The combination of an exhaustchamber, and valve-chambers aihxed to opposite valves causes the actuating-pneumatics to be IIO sides of the exhaust-chamber and communiof said exhaust-chamber, and a series of actuating-pneumatics mounted on each secondary-valve chamber.

' 5'. The combination of an exhaust-chem her, a primary-valve chamber mounted on the exhaust-chamber, secondar "-valve cham-.

bers lying on opposite sides 0 the exhauster .and air-passages connecting the primary-valve chamber with the secondaryvalve chamber.

6. The combination of an "exhaust-chainber formed of two parts secured together and having coinciding grooves to'form a chamber, a primary-valve chamber, and air-passages connecting the ends of said exhaustchamber with the primarywalve chamber.

7. An exhaust-chamber formed of two parts secured together and having coinciding longitudinal grooves to form a chamber, said chamber having end air-passages and side air-passages.

8. The combination of an exhaust-chainber, a primary-valve chamber mounted on said exhaust chamber, secondary valve chambers lying on "opposite sides of the exhaust-chamber and connected therewith by passages of uniform or approximately uniform length, and actuating-pnumatics mounted on the secondary-valve chambers and lying on opposite sides of theprimary-valve chamber.

9. In a valve chamber, a valve-board chambered to receive valves and bored to form air-passages and plugs closing part of the bores to strengthen the valve-board.

10. In a valve-chamber, a valve-board chambered to receive valves and having transverse bores and vertical bores to form air-passages, and plugs entering said trans verse bores and closing a portion of their length to strengthen the valve-boards.

11. In a valve-chamber, a valve-board chambered to receive valves and having transverse bores and vertical bores to form air-passages, and plugs entering said transverse bores and closing a portion of their length to strengthen the valve-boards, said outer sides thereof, said longitudinal grooves forming an air chamber, and secondaryvalve chambers located on opposite sides of the exi1aust-chamber and being connected with the airspace in the latter by said transverse openings.

13. In a primary-valve chamber, a valveboard having bores therethrough, bushings held in said bores, air-passages extending transversely from said bushings to the edge of said valv'eboard, air-openin s extending from the space above saidva ve-board to said transverse passages, and valves having each a stem guided in said bushings and being adapted to open and close said air-openings.

14. In a primary-valve chamber. a valveboard having plugs extending therethrough and bored to form bushings, valves having each a stem guided in said bushings, transverse passages extendin from said bushings to the edge of the valveboard, and air-openings extending from said transverse passages outward and adapted to be opened and closed by said valves.

In testimony whereof we have afiixed our signatures in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH HERBERT CHASE. WILLIAM FREDERICK BAYER. Witnesses:

WM. 0. LANGMANN, L. J. BUNDY. 

